Jack (John) Kelly
Jack (John) Kelly, born 21 August 1898 in County Laoise, Ireland, died in Taumarunui, 3 May 1980.
The following information has been sourced from various documents gathered by Michael and Pam Kelly (Sydney, Australia) including Birth Certificate, War Office Records, Newspapers, Military Archivist etc. and are held by Michael Kelly in Sydney. Pam Kelly helped with the project of collating the Kelly family history, and we’re extremely grateful to her for that work. John Kelly provided photos and information and Emma-Jean Kelly collated this current version. We’re very happy to have family feedback, so just contact the usual ways whānau!
Formal portrait of Jack Kelly as a young man
Photo of Jack Kelly as an older man by John Kelly
JOHN KELLY (Known as Jack)
Date of Birth: 21st August, 1898
Place: Kilmalogue (Portarlington)
District: Cloneygowan
Registrars District: Mountmellick
Counties: Kings & Queens
Birth Registered: 1st October, 1898
Letter from Jack Kelly, ‘Dad’ to John, his son, describing some of the family back in Ireland.
‘Hello John, You are asking too much. I have never met my grandparents. My father John could have been over fifty when I was born. He was a baker and we had a store in Chapel St. Portarlington. His father lived in THE PYKE OF RUSHALL, Mountrath on a small farm with a lime kiln. His brothers were Denis (Royal Irish Constabulary), James, Fintan (sp?) killed in the Zulu War and William (?) drowned accidentally in Dublin Bay, also a Sister named Mary. My mother was a Mary Dunne from Tullamore. My family in order of age. Michael (Hawkes Bay Company Wellington Infantry Regt. Main Body) died 1943 aged 57. Mary Anne born 1888, Denis who died very young 1890, Alice died at 17 yrs 1892, Margaret 1894, Elizabeth 1896, Myself 1898, James (Civic Guards Inspector) 1900, William (Sergeant Civic Guards) 1902, Agnes 1904.
Sorry no more. A bit upsetting. Hope you can read it. Dates of all except Michael approximate. Father died 27th July 1923. Mother when Jean [his wife] was in the maternity home at Hamilton with Michael or Carole.
My love to Joan, Dad. P.S. Lizzie is a more reliable source of info. From her you will get details of your cousins in Ireland.’
Kelly family archive, Irish home with thatched roof, person unknown.
Kelly Family Home Address: Bakery,
Portarlington
Queens County
Then known as: Chapel Street,
Later known as: Patrick Street,
Portarlington County Laois (AKA Kings and Queens).
3rd house from St.Michaels Church – next door to The Nook Grocery store.
Scholastic Achievements
1912 Intermediate Education Board for Ireland Certificate – Junior Grade.
Awarded an Exhibition of Fifteen Pounds in Group C.
Obtained Passes and Honours in:-
French, Arithmetic and Algebra, Geometry, History &
Historical Geography, and Experimental Science (Second
Year Course) and Passes in English and Irish.
1913 Intermediate Education Board for Ireland Certificate
Middle Grade
Obtained Passes and Honours in:-
French, Arithmetic and Algebra, Trigonometry and
Chemistry (Third Year Course) and passes in English, Irish
Mathematics and History and Historical Geography.
1914 Intermediate Education Board for Ireland Certificate
Middle Grade
Awarded an Exhibition of the Second Class in Group D.
Obtained Passes with Honours in:-
Arithmetic with Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry,
Chemistry (Third Year Course) and Drawing (Third Year Course) and Passes in: English, French and Irish.
15th September, 1914 Intermediate Education Board for Ireland Certificate –
Awarded to Mr. John Kelly, Christian Schools,
Portarlington, an Exhibition of Fifteen Pounds in Group D, Middle Grade.
1915 Intermediate Education Board for Ireland Certificate.
Senior Grade.
Obtained passes in:- English, French, Irish, Geometry and
Chemistry (Fourth Year course) and Passes with Honours
in: Arithmetic with Algebra and Trigonometry.
8th April, 1915 Certificate of Employment During the War.
Regimental No: 13893
Rank: Corporal
Issued by 8th (Ser,) Bn, The Queens Own (Royal West Kent) Regt.
Trade or calling before enlistment:- Teacher
Courses of Instruction:-
Snipers Course
General NCO;s Course 2 Army School
Military Qualifications:-
Marksman
Lewis Gun Instructor (Certificate)
4th October, 1915 National University of Ireland Certificate.
Registered as a Matriculation Student of the University.
Having passed at the Senior Grade Examination of June,
1915 of the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland, in
the subjects of :-Irish, French, English, Mathematics and
Chemistry.
War Record
3rd August, 1916 War Office. Issued from Hounslow.
Date of Enlistment to 1st Battalion, The Buffs.
Regimental No: 13893
Rank: Corporal
For Regiment/Corps to which first appointed:
A.S.C. (M.T.). (Refer discharge document dated 24th February, 1919)
Note: 1st Battalion of the East Kent Regiment were formally known as the 3rd Regiment of Foot.
Jack Kelly bottom left, others unnamed
7th February, 1917 Reply letter from:- Intermediate Education Board of
Ireland.
J.K. requested Duplicate of Examination 1914 Certificate
Mailed to:-
Private J.Kelly No:16481 A Company,
104th T.R. Batt
Kings Park School’s
Edinburgh, Scotland.
22nd September, 1918 Second Army Central School of Instruction Report –
Report on 13893 A/l/Cpl Kelly J.
6th Division, 1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
Demonstration Course from 22/6/1918 to 22/9/1918.
Special Aptitudes: Fitted to promotion for the rank of Sergeant.
General Qualities: One of the smartest and best turned out
NCO’s in the platoon. A selected man in demonstrations,
Intelligent, good word of command, keen on military subjects.
Good at topography. Should make a good leader.Good at recreational games.
Interest and Keenness: Took an intelligent interest and displayed great keenness in all his work
Progress: Lewis Gun qualified as an instructor.
21st October, 1918 War Office Report.
13893 L/Corporal – Kelly.J.
East Kent Regiment
Hospitalised to convalescent depot Rouen, France on
11th October, 1918 with Gunshot wound to the back
Mailed to:- Mrs. Kelly, Bakery, Portarlington, Queens
County.
Extract from Correspondence from Bob O’Hara dated 9th July, 1988 -I know that the 1st Battalion of The Buffs were there on the first Day of the Somme and as John Kelly was in the 1st Battalion, I have copied some extracts from a published works of the war diary which will give you an idea of the locations.
24th February, 1919 War Office Certificate. Issued from Hounslow.
Discharged and re-enlisted.
25th February, 1919 Enlisted at Vettureius, Germany.
Special Qualifications (Military):-
Second Class Certificate of Education
Medals/Decorations: Nil on present Engagement.
Wound Stripes: Nil
13th July, 1920 Infantry Record Office, No.10 District,
Staines Rd, Hounslow.
Medal Entitlement:
British War & Victory Medals
Service No: G/13893
Regimental No: L/11632
Group: WO/Class: 329/Piece: 667
Note: The British War Medal was authorised in 1919 and was instituted to commemorate some of the most terrible battles the world has ever known.
The Victory Medal was also authorised in 1919 and was to mark the victory of the Allies over the Central Powers.
31st March, 1921 Certificate of Discharge. Infantry records Hounslow.
Rank: Corporal – 1st Battalion, The Buffs
Termination of Engagement Para 392 XX1 KR after
Serving 2 years 35 days with the colours.
Marks or scars: 2 scars, front right leg.
Height: 6’ 4”
Complexion: Ruddy
Eyes: Light Brown
Hair: Light Brown
31st March, 1921 Military Character Certificate. Infantry Records, Hounslow.
Rank: Corporal
1st. Battalion The Buffs.
According to records was very good, a sober, honest and
Hardworking man.
Letter above to Michael Kelly, youngest son of Jack Kelly.
During the Irish Civil War (1922 – 1923) John Kelly was the leader of the rebel opposition in Portarlington (possibly they were Fifth Battalion, Company B, according to the testimony of Laurence/Ler/Lorcan Brady). They were sometimes called ‘The Irregulars’ by Free Staters but were the Anti-Treaty IRA (Irish Republican Army) and they were in opposition to the Irish Free State Troops also known as the National Troops.
The following documents cover an ambush incident just South of Portarlington in which John Kelly was involved. Three National Troops were killed and many IRA participants including John Kelly were jailed for their part in the ambush.
29th July, 1922 Report – Re Ambush of National Troops at Tunduff
between Maryboro and Abbeyleix. On the 28th July, 1922
By: S.Flynn I/O – Headquarters Leix
No.1 Brigade
Kellyville Park, Maryborough.
Sent to: Command I/O Curragh Command.
Flynn’s statement on the Tunduff Ambush Jack Kelly was involved in
Undated Report Powell’s Statement. (National Army Officer) on
The ambush incident. FIRST PAGE
Undated Report Powell’s Statement. (National Army Officer) on
The ambush incident. SECOND PAGE
22nd February, 1923, Ledger entry showing a list of those imprisoned during the
Civil War which includes John Kelly of Chapel Street, Portarlington. Interned for two years presumably from 22nd February, 1923. Note: Imprisoned at Maryboro now called Portlaoise.
Apparently these files also exist but are not included here:
Undated Report Newspaper Clipping giving the Jury’s verdict on the above
Coroner’s Report.
3rd August, 1922 Freemans Journal Clipping (Newspaper)
Re: Coroners report at Port Laoghaire Courthouse into the
Covering the deaths of Colonel-Commandant
MacCurtin, Colonel-Commandant Collinson and volunteer
Grace killed in the ambush at Tunduff and subsequent operations at Raheen.
27th July, 1923 During his imprisonment Jack’s father John Kelly died.
16th September, 1924 Character Reference from:-
St.Michaels Church, Portarlington.
I have known the bearer John Kelly for some years. He is the son of most respectable parents and I believe him to be an honest, sober and intelligent young man.
Signed, Eccles Paroch, Portarlington.
An undated Certificate of Attainment – New Zealand Education Department, District of Canterbury also exists but is not included in this document.
After Ireland
After being released from jail, Jack left Ireland for Liverpool and then boarded the Athenic (third class passenger, Jack’s eldest son John Kelly has the passenger list) and came to New Zealand in 1926. He met Jean Rodger Martin, who lived in Christchurch and was from a Scottish Protestant family, although our cousin Helen has uncovered the fact that Jean’s grandmother Honora was Irish Catholic. The Kellys had understood Jean was exiled from the Martin family for falling in love and marrying an Irish Catholic. Certainly the Kelly children (of Jean and Jack) did not have contact with the Martins growing up, but John Kelly and Helen Martin, a cousin, became friends in adulthood and the families have been close ever since. Helen Martin has written the family history largely focused on the Martin side, it’s called ‘Roots’ and is highly prized in the family.
Honora Martin, Jean’s Grandmother with grandson Keith, Jean (seated in front) and Frances Martin (Keith and Jean’s mother).
Jack and Jean married in the Christchurch Catholic Cathedral in 1934. Jack joined the New Zealand Railways and the family then moved around depending on where he was needed, from Christchurch to Petone, Frankton Junction and Ngaio Wellington. Maureen was first born, followed by John, Michael and Carole. The children had holidays on the Pahiatua Farm where Jack’s sister Lizzie Kelly had lived since 1923.
Jean Kelly née Martin, Great Aunty Bridget Kelly née O’Grady and Lizzie Kelly (later Dron) at Pahiatua.
Lizzie Mary Dron (nee Kelly) with Colin Dron, looking smart in town.
Carole Kelly by John Kelly
John, Michelle (Pam and Michael’s daughter), Joan Kelly née Cook, Pam Kelly née Bourne, Marjorie and Douglas (Doug) Martin (Jean’s brother).
Grandma Jean Rodger Kelly (née Martin) as an older woman
Jack and Jean made their last home in a railway house in Taumarunui, Central North Island where the younger children Michael and Carole went to High School. They retired there, in their own home. Jean and Jack are buried together in the Taumarunui cemetery.
L-R Colin Dron, Jack Kelly, John Kelly, Maureen Hammer, Michael Kelly, Keith Martin (Jean’s brother, pictured as a child with his grandmother Honora, Jean and Frances earlier), Taumarunui for Jean Kelly’s funeral. Jean died 15 June 1978. Handwritten caption John Kelly. According to family lore, Jack died of a broken heart. He fell and broke his hip, which led to hospitalisation and complications.
Jack Kelly’s grave at Taumarunui, born Portarlington Ireland.
Jack Kelly smiling as an older man by John Kelly
L-R Back Row Joan Kelly holding Emma-Jean, Maureen Hammer, Janine Hammer and Unknown. Front row L-R Kate Sara and Patrea Joanne Kelly in garden of 16 Park Hill Road Birkenhead, Auckland.
Paola and Carole Raffinetti in South Africa
Kelly O'Grady Dron Clan Histories 